Sumatra Internees
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SUMATRA INTERNEES including AANS & QA Military Nurses, a few male military personnel interned as civilians [Padang Group] but not including Dutch nationals. Compiled by Jonathan Moffatt, Michael Pether, Becca Kenneison Introduction Four members of the Malayan Volunteers Group are surviving Sumatra internees and others are the children or grandchildren of Sumatra internees. This has generated considerable interest in Sumatra captivity diaries and documents that piece together the story of both groups of Sumatra internees: those interned in the Palembang/Muntok area and those captured at Padang. Many of their names had already come up in Michael Pether and Becca Kenneison’s research into the passenger lists of ships sunk in the Banka Straits in February 1942. Others were recorded as aboard captured vessels including the Mata Hari, the Mary Rose and HMS Tapah. We were aware that although the names of civilians & POWs captured in Singapore were very carefully recorded in documents including the Changi Register and the POW index cards now at National Archives, Kew, the wartime lists of Sumatra internees were extremely inaccurate in both the recording of names and professions. With the list below we hope to put this right. Our main sources of information appear at the end of the list. We welcome any additions and corrections that will enhance this list of names. List of Names ADAM F.M. [Frederick Marshall] ‘Fred’ Assistant, Mansfield & Co. Penang since early 1930s. ARP Singapore. In the Relau/Rantau Mansfields escape party from Singapore 13.2.42. Palembang, Sumatra internee. Died in captivity 25.1.45 [38] Muntok. Wife Joan nee Scott evacuated to Australia on the Gorgon. Daughters Judy Joan & Judy also evacuated to Perth WA. Joan remarried post war & had 2 sons. She died 1980s. AERIA Mrs Vera .L. Giang Bee survivor picked up by HMS Tapah 2.42. Children Leonard & Barbara. Muntok & Palembang, Sumatra internee. AERIA Mrs Gladys, aged 34 years of 29 Martaban Rd, Singapore. Survivor of SS Kuala sinking. Padang, Sumatra internee with children Collette, aged 9 months and Patrice, aged 1 month. Then Bankinang Camp. Gladys died 5.2.1981. AITKEN J.C.H.[John Coutts Hogg] b.1891 Aberdeen. To Malaya 1919. Planter Manager, Jitra Rubber Plantations Ltd, Padang Serai, S. Kedah and Jitra, N. Kedah. LDC. Left Singapore 12.2.42. Wife Ruth, aged 37, evacuated on the Empress of Japan to WA then via Capetown to Liverpool arriving 19.3.42. To West Cults, Aberdeen. John was a Sumatra internee. Died in captivity 25.11.44 [54] Muntok ALBERT L.B. Palembang Sumatra internee. Died in captivity 3.6.45[64] Belalau. ALEXANDER H. M. Gammon[Malaya] Ltd, Ocean Building, Singapore. Palembang Men’s Camp, Sumatra internee. ‘’Wife c/o J.C. Gammon Ltd., Winchester House, London…”. Repatriated to the UK on the Sobieski 10.45. A member of BAM 1950s/60s. ALFRED N. [Norman] Procurator aged 42 in 1942. Sumatra internee. ALLAN Ms E. Palembang Women’s camp 1942. Sumatra internee. ALLEN W.P. [William Probyn] MA b.1911 Pontardawe, Breconshire. Educated Cambridge University. Far Eastern Rep. Boots Pure Drug Company. Wife Kathleen [Kay]. He a Giang Bee survivor & a Palembang Sumatra internee. Died in captivity 25.3.45 [33] Belalau, Sumatra. ALLISON J.M. [John Munt] b.1896 Romford, Essex. To Malaya 1914. Planter Manager, East Coast of Sumatra. With wife Dorrit, aged 43 in 1942, & children Helen [13] & Jonathan [5] Sumatra internees. Dorrit, Helen & Jonathan repatriated to India then on the Ranchi from Madras, arriving Southampton 24.11.45. Post-war Manager, Sungei Siput Estate. 1st planter killed in the Malayan Emergency 16.6.48. ANDERSON Mrs Frances Mary Arkcoll Wife of William from Penang. “…husband in Changi…”, Sumatra internee. When in March 1944 women were no longer taken to the local hospital and Mary became ill she was cared for by Phyllis Briggs ( diary record) “…She was desperately thin and no one would have recognised her. I had known her in Penang. She had been a large woman with a booming voice and a very keen golfer. Now she was frail and pathetically grateful for anything one did for her. She died on the 4th March …” . Before she died Mary made a will leaving her belongings to various friends. She left me a linen dress and a piece of mosquito netting…” Died in captivity 5.3.44[46] Palembang, Sumatra . ANDERSON S.A. [Stewart Alexander] OBE 1964. Partner, Ritchie & Bissett Hull [Naval Architects], Union Building, Singapore. Aged 32 in 1942. Escaped Singapore 13.2.42 in the Relau/Rantau SSC group. Intercepted 16.2.42. Palembang, Sumatra internee. To Changi? Wife Rene; children Carole b.1947 & Alan. With Ritche & Bissett, Singapore postwar. Retired to West Linton, Peebleshire. Died 28.10.66 Edinburgh. ANDREWS G.V. [George Vincent] FCA b.1907 West Derby, Lancs. To Singapore 1938. Accountant Mansfields/ Straits Steamship Company, Ocean Building, Singapore. Pte Scottish Company ISSVF early 1930s. MAS. Wife Dylis Beatrice evacuated with daughters Jill & Patricia on Ulysses. Arrived Fremantle WA 31.12.41. He in the Relau/Rantau Mansfields escape party from Singapore 13.2.42. Palembang, Sumatra internee. Died in captivity 27.5.45[38] Belalau, Sumatra ANGUS Ms Lucille Yvonne Daughter of Mr & Mrs Hugh Angus of Singapore. Singapore Cold Storage employee. Survived the Vyner Brooke sinking, Palembang Women’s camp 1942 “…left Camp 12.2.43…”. Sumatra internee. Returned to Singapore. Changi & Sime Rd internee. ANTHONY J.M. [Joseph Manook] Retired, of Singapore. Formerly of A.A. Anthony & Co., 9 Beach St,Penang. Palembang, Sumatra internee. Died in captivity 18.9.42 ANTHONY Mrs Regina Wife of Joseph M. Sumatra internee. Died in captivity 16.9.42[85] Palembang . Cross list shows dod as 18.9.42 ATKIN-BERRY H.G. [Henry Gordon] Architect, Swan & McLaren, Hong Kong Bank Chambers, Singapore. Palembang Men’s Camp, Sumatra internee. Died in captivity of dysentery 20..4.42 [48] Palembang – as did Robbins. ARATHOON H.S. of Stephens, Paul & Co. Commercial Union Building, Singapore. Palembang Men’s Camp, Sumatra internee. [this may be Harold Sidney Arathoon b.1916. To UK from India 1949. Worked for Indian Railways – to Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. Died 1976 Cheshire]. ARMSTRONG Mrs Theresia ‘Resie’ Palembang Women’s camp 1942. Sumatra internee. Died in captivity 7.2.45 [51] Muntok. This may be the wife of “..ARMSTRONG H M MERCHT HEEREN B”LDG WIFE + 2CHIL PALEMBANG…” who is listed in the secret ‘Jeyes’ list in Changi ARMSTRONG Ms Dixle Resie her daughter. Palembang women’s camp 1942.Sumatra internee. Died in captivity 5.4.45[32] Muntok ARMSTRONG R. [Ralph] Son of Mrs Resie Armstrong. Survived Vyner Brooke sinking. Muntok/ Palembang Women’s camp 1942., Sumatra internee. Lives today in Australia ARNOLD C.J.[Charles John] ‘Corky’ from Norwich. To the Far East 1898 as Assistant, H.A. Badman & Co., Bangkok. WW1 Pte to 2nd Lt MSVR 1917 while planting on Edinburgh Estate. Later General Manager, Edinburgh Rubber Estates Ltd, Kepong, Selangor. Wife Ida evacuated to Capetown SA but she died there 25.1.43. Palembang, Sumatra internee. Died in captivity 3.1.44 [70] Palembang, of dysentery. His son, Major John Arnold killed 1950 in the Malayan Emergency. ASHTON Carrie J. AANS Nursing Sister aged 37 in 1942. Phyllis Brigg’s diary notes “… 15th December 1944 ‘Fatty’ [ a Japanese guard] let Jenny Ashton ..pick some beans from his garden, but a few beans added to a stew for six hundred doesn’t make much difference…” Palembang Sumatra internee ATTENBOROUGH W. [William]Mechanical Engineer, S Malayan Tin. Sub-Lt RNVR 3rd Engineer. Aged 33 in 1942. Giang Bee. Palembang Sumatra internee. He is listed in the ‘Jeyes” document as “… ATTENBOROUGH W. P. S. MUN C PALEMBANG…” AUSTIN Mrs Mary Melvene from Manly NSW Australia. Wife of Kenneth. Aged 41 in 1942. Sumatra internee. Died in captivity 12.4.45[43] at sea off Banka Island.”…buried at sea…” AXON Mrs Queenie Mary nee Danker. Wife of Army L/Cpl Alfred John Axon, Manchester Regiment. They married 10.40 Johore Bahru. Aged 31 in 1942. With daughter Patricia Ann. aged 3, a Palembang Sumatra internee. Cross list notes “…(?) Died on 28.9.45 in Singapore…” L/Cpl Axon remained in Johore 1945 [Jalan Waterworks JB]. In 1963 Patricia married Bill Bagby, son of Sumatra internee Wally Bagby. BADDELEY S. [Sidney] b.1896 Silvertown, London. Received Master Certificate 6.3.22 Liverpool. Captain: Assistant Marine SuperIntendent then Marine Superintendent SSC/ Mansfields, Ocean Building, Singapore. Escaped Singapore 13.2.42 on Rantau but intercepted 16.2.42. Sumatra internee – Muntok then Palembang till 26.8.42 then to Fukuoka, Japan as civilan internee. Wife Ruby [Margaret?]evacuated on the Narkunda arriving Fremantle WA 24.1.42 then to SA. Wife c/o Mrs. Leather, Hodge Lane, Hartford, Cheshire, England. He resumed duties at Singapore 1946. Retired 1950 to SA. Died 1960 Natal. Son Philip [aged 86 in 2006 – lives in Cumbria]. Daughter Winifred Margaret. BAGBY W.S. [Walter Scott] ‘Wally’ b.NZ. Jockey & Horse Trainer. Giang Bee survivor. Palembang, Sumatra internee. 4 sons incl. Walter & Billy. Returned to Malayan racing post war. Died 2.67 [57]Auckland NZ. BALDOCK D. [Denys] b. 1892 Lamport, Northants. Manager, Boeloe Telang Estate, Medan. Sumatra internee. Wife Elsie Winifred. Children Denise b.1921, Richard b.1922, John b.1926. Denys was repatriated to Southampton on Durban Castle, arriving 29.11.45 then to Vancouver BC. BANKS D. [Douglas] Engineer, Cable&Wireless . Aged 48 in 1942. On HMS Tapah 2.42. Palembang, Sumatra internee. Repatriated on Antenor from Singapore, arriving Liverpool 27.10.45. To London. BANNISTER S.G.[Stephen] b.1920. Stoker, Royal Navy. POW 17.3.42.